US1557545A - Fire-control apparatus for naval guns - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1925. 1,557,545

w. AKEMANN FIRE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR NAVAL GUNS Filed March 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. AKEMANN FIRE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR NAVAL GUNS Filed March 5. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 35' ment, which is Patented. Oct. 20, 1.925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

WALTER AW, 01' BERLIN-HARLEM, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TO FRED. KBUP P AKTIENGFSELLSCHAFT, F ESSEN-GN-THE-RUHR, GERMANY.

V FIREQONTROL APPARATUS FOR NAVAL GUNS.

Application filed amen a, 1024. Serial no. macs.

a To allwhomit may concern. I p

' Be it known that I, WALTHER AKEMANN, 1 residingat Berlin-Dahlem, Germany, a-citizen of the German Republic, have lnvented I a certain new and useful Improvement in Fire-Control Ap aratus for Naval Guns, of I which the followm is a specification. The invention re ates to a fire controlapparatus for naval guns which is provided with a firing device having a stabilized and a non-stabilized firing tongue, and with a long distance adjusting a paratus enabling the distant pointing of the gun. The object of the invention is to so improve apparatus of the character stated that a particularly advantageous connection is attaindbetween the firmg device and the long distance transmittm apparatus which latter is designed for t e dlstant pointing of at least one gun.

With this end in View the invention consists in the arrangement, construction and combination of parts to be hereinafterdescribed and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing-which diagrammatically illustrates, by way of example, twoembodiments of the subject-matter of the; invention and in which: .Fig. 1 illustrates and Fig. 2 that portion of the second embodisituated in the transmitting the first embodiment,

station. J

.The embodiment described first.

' The gun-barrel' A is mounted in the shown in Fig. 1 will be and is provided with a toothed elevating are having a series of teeth a and another series of teeth (1 The teeth a are engaged a inion which is positively connected to a s aft 6 by means of a self-locking worm gear 6 a". The other teeth, a in mesh with a pinion a of afgear a? a 0 are connected to a shaft C designed for adjusting a rotatable reading-01f mark 0 which indicates the elevation of the n-barrel 1L The rotation o the shaft 6 can be ef fected y a distant controlled receiving mo- 7 self-locking latter is beigig e use of after the clutch f" for B or by a hand wheel B mounted on the free end of shaft 6 A quickly releasable clutch b is interposed between the motor B and the worm b. v

The armature, not shown, of the receiving motor B excited by alternating current, is connected by conductors b to the corres ondin transmitter D excited bysimilar ternatmg current in such a manner that it, runs synchronously with the rotative part, formed by the brushes d of the transmitter D. The rotatable brushes (1 are mounted on one end of a shaft (1 the other positively connected to one, 6, of thevv'central.

means of 8.

Wheels of said lanet ear b p g while the shaft f is positively connected to the other central wheel 7" of said gear. The shaft e is further provided with a hand wheel E and a reading-off device e e indicating the dis-' tance target-gun. For rotating the shaft f ,there is provided, in the first line, a continuous current motor F which may be connected to a network by a switch P- and the armature of which is positively connected to the shaft 7 through the intermediary of a self-locking gear f g f f f f and a quickly releasable clutc f.

line, there is provided a hand wheel f which is mounted on the free end of shaft j and rotates idly with this shaft if the driven by the motor F and which is 111 has been th ownout. The rotation of the shaft f is further transmitted, by a gear I 40 mounting A capable of lateral training; f" g, to a shaft gwhich carries on its free end brushes 9 forming the rotative parts of a transmitter G.- To the said brushes g of the transmitter G which is exclted by In the second alternating current. is so connected by conductors g the armature of the corresponding receiving motor H excited by simllar alternating current, that it will rotate synchronously with said brushes g. The arma-' ture shaft h is 'positivelyconnected by a worm gear 15 i to the casin J of agyro scope firing device, which casmg is adapted toswing about an horizontal axis. This lbeingstab" Ontheshaft bythein w e the counter-tongue k, is v justablyz mounted on a art K which is capable of in the space by sald'gyroscope. The adjustability of the countertongue! 1: which does not form the subject matter of this invention and, therefore, is not illustrated here, is broadly shown in the ification of U. S. Patent No. 1,387,440.

0 said adjustability enables the influence of the velocity of the roll on the angle 0L axis of advanced ignition and therewith on the angle of elevation tobe automatically al lowed for at the moment of the shot. The

conditions are so chosen that with each angle of rotation of the shaft f the a les of rotation imparted tothe glm-barr fA and to the tongue i are ual to each other. g is a reading-oft device f" f in 'cating the rotations imparted to the gun:barrel and to the tongue i by the receivers B and H.

The two firing tongues 13 and H lie --in a circuit-which comprises the exciting winding M of the firing ma et and a hand-operated switch N. A sha q, further, is sitively connected to the shaft d by a evel d g, said shaft 2 driving the transgear 39 mitter Q which is provided with a readingofl device, of a long distance indicatingapparatus. The receiver Q belonging to sald Q and connected thereto by conductors 9 shows a pointer g indicating its adjustment and the axis of rotation of which coincides with that of the mark 0 The working of the above-described apparatus will be described from the position oi the parts as seen in the drawing and it 10 will supposed that the gyroscope is and the ship assumes an horizontal position. Now, when the ship is rolling and the gun-barrel A which lpreviously has been laterall trained is to ave imparted ovation corresponding to the range of the target with respect to an horizontal plane and has to be fired, to its passing, during the roll, throu the horizontal position by an amount 0 time nding to the delay then first thehand wheel E is turn until the division mark of the scale 0" correspondi to the of the target, registers with t e mark a. rotation of the hand wheel E causes, of the gear 0* e' e e e 21 a rotation of the shaft d eihfectl'1 llh its urn, acorresponding' rotation o t e ru es d, which form the rotative Part of the transmitter D, and by means 0 the gear (1 also a rotation of they rotative part of the Q. The rotation of the rotative parts of the transmitters D and Q is correspondingly taken part in by the armature of the receivin motor B and by the rotative pointer g o the receiver Q of the rior' long distance indicating apparatus Q Q.

Further, the said rotation of the armature of the receiving motor B of the long distance adjusting apparatus D b B is transmitted, firstly, by means of the gear I) b b a a a a to the un-barrel A in such a manner that an elevation corresponding to the range of the target is imparted to the latter relative to its platform. Secondly the said rotation is transmitted, byv means of the gear a a a 0 C, to the mark a rotatable about the pointer 9 The conditions are so chosen t at every rotation of the shaft d causes rotations of the pointer g and of the mark 0 whichrotations are equal to one another. In consequence thereof the pointer gand the mark a will permanently register, upon rotation of shaft d, as long as the long distance adjusting apparatus D d b B and the long distance indicating apparatus Q g Q 9 will work normally.

In addit1on to'the said elevation imparted to the gun-barrel by turnin the hand wheel E and corresponding to t e range of the target, an inclination by a determined angle, or instance 3, is imparted to the gun-barrel A and to the non-stabilized firing tongue 2'. To this end, afterthe clutch f,

has been thrown out, the hand wheel f is turned until the reading-off mark m ca e istcrs with that division, mark of t e s f" which indicates 3. This rotation of the 7 hand wheel f *is transmitted, firstly, by

means of the intermediate gears shown 1nthe drawing to the adjustable parts of the transmitters. D and G and causes, by means" of the receivers B and H a corresponding additional adjustment of the gun-barrel A and ot' the nonrstabilized tongue i. The conditions are such as to cause, u on the r0:

tati'on just mentioned of the ban wheel f,

the gun-barrel A and the tongue 2? to turn by 3 in counter-clockwise direction and to be lowered by 3 relative to their previous angular position. The described rotation of the hand wheel f is transmitted, secondly, by means of the long distance indicating apparatus Q Q to the pointer and so 1marts to it an adjustment that it permanenty will register with the mark 0 which like- -wise alters its angular position upon lower- ?ing the gun-barrel A. Therefore the gunbarrel A adjusted relative to its platform I and taking part in the rolling movements of the shi assumes in the moment of passing throng its horizontal position, anangle of elevat1on,,relative to its platform, which is by 3 smaller than the angle of elevation corresponding to the range of the target, and thefiring tongue 71 likewise'taking part in the roll assumes in this moment still an angular distance from the tongue is which is emlual to the angle of 3 minus the amount of t e angle of advanced ignition.

Now as hereinbefore explained, th s fire tongu has to" be initiated prior to the assage through the horizontal position y the amount of the angle of advanced ignition corresponding to. the firing delay. It is 6 therefore required to impart, during the rolling-up movement, to the rolling tongue 71 and to the gun-barrel A, likewise rolling, an additional rotation by 3". This additional rotation by ,3? causes the tongue to face the tongue 10 at the moment the ship is in advance of the horizontal position by the angle of "advanced ignition, and the gun barrel A to assume an angle corresponding to the ran e of the target at the moment 5 of the horizontal position of the ship.

As soon as the hereinbefore described ailjustments, by the hand wheels E and f, u of the gun-barrel and tongue i have been terminated, the clutch f is thrown in. If now the ship takes the lower reverse point of the movement of roll or is in the vicinity thereof, first the switch" N contained in the firing circuit, is thrown 'in by hand. Then, duringthe movement of roll directed to' Y wards the horizontal position the continuous current motor F is set in motion by throw- Y ing in the switch f The rotatlon of motor F which takes place with a uniform angular velocity after a constant starting time,

r is transmitted by means of-the' gear f "f f f" f f to the. shaft 7 and therewith, in the manner already described, also to the rotativeparts of the transmitters D, Q, and G. The gun-barrel A which is positively connected to the armature of the receiver B and the firing tongue 71 positively attached to the receiver H' will therefore be rotated with equal angular. velocity in clockwise directim. The conditions are so that, the

I e iturnetbinclockwise direction by the motor F will face again the stabilized tongue is, during the upwardly Idirected nfovement of roll, in a moment in, which the ship is-Lstill inclined relative to its horizontal position by. the angle of advanced ignition, and that the tongue 2' will again assume, its angular position shown in the dfiawi'ng relatiye to the tongue when the s 'ip is inhori'z'ontal position. Thus the firing tongue. 1? has been rotated, during the rolling-up movement, until the horizontal positionhas been reached, by 3? in clock wise direction by the motor F. As the angular velocities of the tongue 2' and of the gun- 5 barr, l are equal to one another, the gun'- barrel hasvbeen raised,- during the rollingup, until the horizontal position has been reached, by 3 relative'to its platform and therefore assumes again in this moment the elevation corresponding to the range of the target relative to its platform. When the tongues 71 and k touch each other and thus close the firingcircuitcontaining the winding M-of the. firing magnet, the shot is ef- 55 fe'cted automatically; The projectile thus leaves the gun-barrel in accordance withthe firing delay mentioned, in that moment p where the ship passes through the horizontal position and where the gun-barrel has again the elevation corresponding'to the range of the target. As soon as the shot has beena fired the motor F is stopped. In case it happens, afterthe recoil following the shot, of the gun-barrel A, that the elevation of the latter has undesirably altered itself by 75 a small amount and that consequentlythe 1 mark a "will no longer register with the s pointer q, the clutch b is thrown out, the

gun-barrel is; brought into the required ele-r vation by turning th'ehand wheel B .and the clutch b is then thrown in again.

The above-described inclination by 3 of the gun-barrel A and of the non-stabilized tongue a? is performed in order to render it possible, upon the rolling-up of the ship, to get the passage of the tongue 5 partaking in the roll, past the stabilized tongue H, with a velocity which is by a constant amount greater than the relative velocity of the tongues i and k provoke by the velocity .of roll otthe ship. For, this increase ofthe rotative Velocity of the tongue 71 by a constant amount is suitable with regard to the properties of the mechanism, not shown,

forautomatically regulating the angle of advanced ignition (mechanism for automatically adjusting the tongue 70 relative to the Cardan .ring .K) and is even necessary with little velocities of roll. For, this mechanism which does not form the object of the invention and therefore is ,n ot described, works in a satisfying manner only if the non-stabilizable tongue i will be moved: past the stabilizable ton ue with a practically-uniform velocity w iich does not exceed determined upper and lower limits. The main advantage of the resent invention rests in'that it is possi le to set the non-stabilizable tongue independentlypf the gun-barrel or in common therewith. For, this possibility is the presupposition for the mode of adjusting pointed out in the foregoing as being of particular advanta e.

it further important advantage resides in the fact that the gyroscope device carrying the firing device is not fitted with the devices for training the gun-barrel and that it therefpre needs little space only. This is particularly important in case the gyroscope device is\mounted ina narrow spot, for instance the top of the ship. The use of a continuous current motor for driving the synchronously running transmitt'en and receiver offers the further advantage that, firstly, the synchronism will disappear not as easily, owing to the successive increase of the number of revolutions of the continuous current motor, as with the drive by hand which is not uniform owing to its nature. 130

, indicating device a the adjustment, according to the range of the sta ment is the same is t atof the Secondly the conditions may be so chosen that the starting time of the motor becomes constant.

The second embodiment differs from that described onl by the apparatus situated in the transmitter station. 5

For driving the shaft f fitted with the f f serve; in a "manner exactly corresponding to the first embodi ment, a hand wheel f and a continuous current motor F positively connected to the shaft f by means of a releasable clutch i The brushes 9, however, forming the retative part of the transmitter Gare mounted' directly on the free end of the shaft The receiver H, no longer shown (see 'Fig.

1), is situated in the gyroscope station'and is connected to said transmitter G by conductors g. The shaft f has mounted on it still a worm f firwhich co-operats with teeth 12 of a sector P swin gly mounted on a frame B. On the sector is mounted for rotation the shaft e fitted with the hand wheel E and with the reading-ofi' device e e and positivel connected, in its turn, to another secton. y means of a self-locking worm gear e. 8 This sector s that is swingingly mounted on the sector P and is coaxial there- I with is positively connected to the shaft 11 carrying the brushes (1 of the transmitter D by'mehns of a bevel gear a d. The receiving motor B, likewise no longer, shown see Fig.1, is connected to the transmitter 1 by the conductors b.

The mode of handlin the second cmbotiiiescribed. It will be seen without further explanation that every rotation of the-shaft f causes a rotation ofthe rotative 1parts In? and'd of the transmitters G -and w e tar of the shaft e will rotate only the adjustable part (if of the transmitter D. The

- advantage of the .second embodiment over eral adjustable 1. A fire control apparatus 1 the first-described resides in that the planet gear which" may cause inaccuracies if not ufactured with extraordinary precision, used-with. 4 s both .dedscrilbed embogiments ,possl eto provi et erangea just a 6 still 'with"a second motoric. with insertion of a releasable clutch, which drive continuously impart to the shaft 0 the variable range 0 f the target.

Qlaims:

for naval guns, comprising the combination with one'o'r sevbarrels ofa pointing mechanism, a long distance adjusting device operatively connected with said gomting mecha nism for adjusting said gun arrel or Barrels and comprising a transmitter and 'a receiver, said receiver being positively connected to said pointing mechanism, an electric firing trio firing devlce, two coope distance adjustingdevice enablin device, two cooperating contacts contained insaid firing device and being situated in the circuit thereof, a stabilizing nieans for one of said contacts, the other of "said contacts being non-stabilized, a long distance adjusting device enabling the adjusting of the nonstabilized contact of said firing device and comprising a transmitter and a receiver, said repelver being positively connected to said non-stabilized contact; and operating means for the transmitters of both sa'id long distance ad'usting devices, said means adapts ed for ternatively settin said gun barrel or barrels either indepen ently of the adjustment of said non-stabilized. contact or in common therewith. 2. A fire control apparatus for naval guns, comprising the combination with one or several adjustable gun barrels of a pointing mechamsm, a long distance adjusting device operatively connected with said point-' ing mechanism for adjusting said gun barrel on barrels and comprising a transmitter and a receiver, said" receiver being positively connected to said pointing 'inec anism, an electricfiring device, ,two cooperating contacts in said firing deviceand bein situated in the circuit thereof, a. gyroscopic evice for tabi: lizing one 'of said contacts, the other of said contacts being non-stabilized, a long dis- 95 tance adjusting device enabling the adjusting, of thenon-stabilized contact of said firing device and comprising aatransmitte'r and a. receiver, said receiver being dpositively connected to said non-stabilize contact; and operating means for the transmitters of both said long distance adjusting devices, said means being adapted foralternatively setting said gun barrel or barrels either independent] of the adjustment of said non-,

contact or in common therewith. 3, A fire control apparatus for naval guns, comprising-the combination with one pr sev era lad'ustable gun barrels of a, pointing "mechanism, a long distancp adjusting device -operatively connected ',w1th said pointing mechanism for adjusting-said gun ba lor barrels and comprisin a transmitte' and a receiver, said receiver ing positively' cons nected to said inting mechanism,"an lec contacts r'at'. contained insaid firing device an ii bemigzsit- 'uated iii the circuit thereof, a stabi ing means for one of said contacts, the other of i said contacts being non-stabilised, a lonf' 12o gsthg a justing of th e non-stabilized contac o said ,firing device and comprisin \a transmitter and a receiver; said receiver ing posit' 1 l connected to said non-stabilized-gaontact; and

,operating means for the transmitters of both said 1o distance adjustingidevices, said means be adapted for alternatively setting said gun barrel or barrels ,elther independ;

ently of the adjustment ;of said non-stabiL' 3 45 contained in said firin ized contact or in common therewith aiid comprising a motor driven shaft in operative Y connection with both of saidtransmitters,

and a hand operated shaft in operative .con- I nection with said first named transmitter andenabling the independentadjustment of said gun barrel or barrels.- 4. A firecontrol apparatus for naval guns, 'comprisiii the combination with orie or ,several adjustable gun barrels of a pointing mechanism, a long distance adjusting device operatively connected .with said pointing mechanism for adjusting said gun barrel or barrels and comprising atransmitter and a receiver, said receiver being positively connected to said pointing mechanism,-an electric firing-device, two cooperating contacts contained. in said firing device and being ."situated-inthe circuitthereof, a stabilizing means for one of said contacts, the other of said contacts being non-stabilized, a long distance adjusting devicerenabling the adjusting oi the non-stabilized contact of said firing device and comprising a transmitter and areceiver, said receiver being positively connected to said non-stabilized contact; and operating means tor the transmitters of both said long? distance adjusting -devices, said means comprising two 'separate driving means, ,one of said driving means being 01 eratively' connected to the transmitter of said first named long distance adjusting de-- vice and the other being operatively-connected-to both of said transmitters. s 5. A fire control apparatus for naval guns, "cbmprising the combination with one or several adjustable gun barrels .oi'a pointing mechamsm,a long distance adjusting device operatively connected with said pointing '40 mechanism for adjusting said gun barrel or "barrels and comprising a transmitter and a I operatively connected with said mechanism for adjustingilzsaid gun barrel or barrels and comprising atransmitter and a receiver, said receiver being positivelyconnected to said pointing mechanism, an electric firin device, two coo crating contacts containe in said firin evice and being situated in the circuit t ereof, a stali' means for one of said contacts, the other 0 said contacts being non-stabilized, a long [6. distance adjusting device enabling the. adjusting of the non-stabilized contact of said firing" device and comprising a transmitter. and a receiver, said receiver being positively connected to said non-stabilized contact; op-- crating means for the transmitters of both said lon distance adjusting devices, said means being adapted for alternatively setting said gun barrel or barrels either inde end-' erftly of the adjustment of said non-stabilized contact or in common therewith; and a long distance indicating device embodying a transmitter, a recelver positioned at one of said gun barrels, means connecting said transmitter to said receiver for synchronous operation, and a pointer carried by said re ceiver, said transmitter being operated in, conjunction with the transmitter of said first-named long distance adjusting device.

7 A fire control a paratus for naval guns," comprising the com ination with one or-several adjustable gun barrels of a pointing I mechanism, a long distance adjusting. device operatively connected with said pointing mechanism for adjustingsaid gun barrel or. loo barrels and comprising a transmitter and a receiver, said receiver being positively con nected to said pointing mechanism, an electric fir' device, two cooserating contacts containe in said firin evice and being situated in the circuit t ereof, a stabilizin receiver, said receiver being positively conmeans for one of said contacts, the other 0 nected to said pointing mechanism, an electric firing device, two cooperating contacts device and being situated in the circuit t erect, a stabilizing r means for one of said contacts, theother of- ;said contacts being non-stabilized, a long distance adjusting device'enabling the ad- 5o justihg dithe non-stabilized contact of id g device .and comprising a transml ter Q and arcceiver, said receiver, being positively connected to said non-stabilized'contact {and operating meansflfor the transmitters of both 'stabilize 66 said long distance adjusting 'devices, said means comprising two shafts, eac'h connected with. one of said transmitters, athird shaft J arid a hand-wheel fixed thereto, a direct our rent-.motogand a clutch; said motor-being J69 adapted to be operativelyponnectedto said thirdshaftbymeans-of said-clutch. f g f 6. A fire control apparatus for naval guns,

' comprising the -combination -With oneor sev em1 ;..ea aaas1e barrels of a painting t5 a long distance adjusting device said contacts being non-stabilized, a lon distance adjusting fining device and comprisin avtransmitter and a receiver, said-receiver eing positively connected to said non-stabilizedjcon troprating means for the tr 'bothfl said long distance adjusting devices} said 115 means being adapted for alternatively ting said gun barrel or barrels either inde-a, pendentl We adjusting ofi-is'aid non-.3,

cont t 0 common therewith? 'nd alongdistan indicating zdevicejem i ying a transmitterfa receiver positioned at one of said gun barrels, means co said transmitter to said f 'iver to synchronous operation,-anda po' 'ter carried h said receiver;- a7 counter-markoperativ connectedto said poin -mephanism cooperating with. said-pointer, .sai d transv being 'operated m conjun tron with the transmitterof said first-11am 'longdistancadjusting' device. I

device enabling. the a justing of the non'stabilized contact of said not 8. fire control a paratus for naval guns,

an additional adjustment to said pointing comprising the com ination with one or sevmechamsm upon the disengagement of said eral adjustable gun barrels of a pointing mechamsm, a long distance adjusting device operatively connected with said pointing mechanism for adjusting said gun barrel or barrels and comprising a transmitter and a receiver, a transmission shaft interposed between said receiver and said pointing mechanism, clutch means interposed in said shaft, an electric firing device, two cooperatin contacts contained in said firing device an being situated in the circuit thereof, a stabilizing means for one of said contacts, the other of said contacts being non-stabilized, a long distance adjusting device enabling the 'adjusting of the non-stabilized contact of said firing device and comprising a transmitter and a receiver, said receiver eing positively 20 connected to Said non-stabilized contact; op-

erating means for the transmitters of both said long distance adjusting devices, said -means being adapted for alternatively setting'said gun barrel or barrels either independentl of the adjustment of said nonstabiliae contact or in common therewith a long distance indicating device embodying a transmitter, a receiver ositioned at one of said: gun barrels, means connecting said transmitter to said receiver for synchronous operation, and a pointer carried by said receiver, said transmitter being operatediin conjunction with the transmitter of said -named long distance adjustin device, a counter mark controlled by said s aft and cooperaling with said pointer and a handwheel carried by said shaftfor imparting clutch means. Q

9. A fire control apparatus for naval guns, comprising the combination with one or several adjustable gun barrels of a pointing mechanlsm, a long distance adjusting device operatively connected with said 1 pointing mechanism for adjusting said gun barrel or barrels and comprising a transmitter and a receiver, said-receiver being positively connected to said pointing mechanism, an electric firin device, two coo eratingcontztcts ,oontaine in said firing evice and being situated in the circuit thereof, a stabilizing means for one of said contacts, the other of said contacts being non stabilized, a long distance adjusting device enabling the adjusting of the non-stabilized contact of said firing device and comprising a transmitter 'and a receiver, said receiver being positively connected to said non-stabilized contact; and operating means for the transmitters of both said long distance adjusting devices, said means embodying two' shafts operatively connected each to one of said transmitters, a sunand -planet gear unit connecting said shafts; whereby the movement of one of said shafts is imparted to the other and a third .shaft ,inconnection with said sunand ;i -planet gear unit and enabling the adjust ment of said gun barrel controlling trans--"- mitter independently .of said non-stabilized, contact controlling transmitter. W

The foregoing specification signed 'at Berlin, Germany, this 9th day of February, 1924.

WALTHER

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